Means for the production of tobacco articles



fiepflt 3,. W35. G. DAVIDSON MEANS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF TOBACCO ARTICLES 7 Original Filed Dec. 5, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VENTOR.

Gfer-zn' parmfsorq 9 m 09 a? ATTORlf s.

111v??? 113* 13% G. DAVIDSON MEANS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF TOBACCO ARTICLES Original Filed Dec. 5, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. G 672 2 17a vicfaoq BY ATTORNEY5 m. 3 1135. G. DAVIDSON MEANS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF TOBACCO ARTICLES Original Filed Dec 5, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 g) 35 f Q T f 3!9r 1;

Q 3 J \J 8 3a /5 as 4 6 :9 i W? a p $59.5

10 v j J I I a 9F m r Z3 2A- J /Z k INVENTOR.

" G567 pa vz'clsmz ray, w

ATTORNEYS N O S m V A D G MEANS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF TOBAQCO ARTICLES 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Original Filed Dec. 5, 1932 INVENTOR. 676mg 17a Vic/$0 Patented Sept. 3, 1935 r a MEANS on THE PRODUCTION OF TOBACCO ARTICLES Glenn Davidson, Portsmouth, Va.

Original application December 5, 1932, Serial No. 645,709. Divided and this application March 19, 1934, Serial No. 716,307

20 Claims. (01. 131-43) This invention relates to the manufacture of mouthpiece cigarettes, i." e. cigarettes which contain within their wrapper, at the end to be received into themouth, an insert of paper or other material, which for convenience, 'may be called a'plug'.

The desirability of such cigarettes has long been recQgniZed because of their numerous ad'- vantages, among which may be listed the following: the prevention of the shedding of shreds of tobacco into the mouth; the avoidance of'thewaste of expensive tobacco Otherwise contained in the butt, which 'is thrown away, i. e. the substitution therefor 'of comparatively inexpensive paper; the prevention of the loss of tobacco from the end of the cigarette, while it is being carried'ina pocketor purse, which loss leaves the cigarette soft between the lips; the much higher standard "of sanitation possible in an insert made of paper, for example, which is handledentirely mechanically as compared to a natural product'like a leaf of tobacco which must, of necessity, be. handled many times by human fingers; the presentation of a firm feeling between the lips, similar to a cork tipped cigarette; a material'reduction in the fire hazard of the discardedfbutt", when fire resistant paper or other' materialis used in making the mouth piece plug.

,Infaddition, it may be said that, if the mouthpiece plugs are properly made, they produce no change in the draft or flavor of the cigarette, as comparedto a cigarette composed entirely of tobacco. v

Despite the fact, that mouthpiece cigarettes have numerous advantagesto. the smoker; that they would save the cigarette manufacturers vast sums. of moneyannually by thesubstitution of comparatively.inexpensive paper for expensive to bacoo; andfurther could reasonably be expected to} materially reduce our national fire loss, they havenot come into use in the case of commercial tobacco cigarettes. While some medicated cigarettes, contain mouthpieces, medicated cigarettes are usually made individually and so the insertion of aninsert mouthpiece is a relatively simplematter as compared to the case of the commercial tobacco cigarettes, which are made by continuously sifting tobacco ontoa travrette rod which is cut into-individual cigarettes.

N Machines of this type are known incommerce- 1 as continuous rod type cigarette machines, in

distinction from machines which form cigarettes individually. Such" machines .produce cigarettes at'rates varying from 750 to 1400 cigarettes. .per minute per machine. Accordingly, the insertion of the insert or plug type of mouthpieces within the wrappers of commercial tobacco cigarettes, during the course of their manufacture by existing high speed methods, has presented mechanical difliculties which have not been solved heretofore. 1 One of the objects of the present invention.

is to provide what might be aptly described as an attachment for the present existing continuous rod type cigarette machines, which can be.

wrapped, and cut into individual cigarettes in.

accordance with standard practices.

In general terms, the method of accomplishing thisconsists of gripping spaced sections of the travelling tobacco wind-row; leaving alternate free sections therebetween, cutting completely through the tobacco wind-row but not through the wrapper paper thereunder near each end of the free sections, removing the free tobacco; inserting plugs in the resulting spaced recesses, removing the gripping means; closing and sealing the Wrapper, and cutting the cigarette rod formed thereby into individual cigarettes in such a way that each cigarette carries a plug or a portion thereof as a mouthpiece. Preferably, the

final cutting into cigarettes is so arranged that" cuts are made through the center of each plug and tobacco, section in a general way similar to the practice followed in cutting cork-tipped cigarettes.

Regarding the matter of cutting through the: tobacco wind-row, others have heretofore pro-- posed to out part way through thiswind-row but such a step will not sufiice for my purpose because a square end. must be provided for the tobacco section against which the plug. may be firmly abutted, in order that there will be no. weakness in the cigarette. at the plane of contact of the plug and the tobacco section. Further, a clean removal. of the free tobacco between. the cuts must be accomplished; in order thatthere'; will be nostrands of tobacco remaining to extend.

between the plug and the wrapper.

I have found that even when using a cutter of razor-like sharpness, if the tobacco wind-row with the wrapper thereunder, is supported on a hard and polished surface, it is possible to cut through the tobacco wind-row and apply very heavy pressure of the razor edge upon the wrapper paper without damage thereto provided there is no sidewise motion. Further, I have found that an edge of the thickness of the body of a safety razor blade will cut through the tobacco wind-row with entire satisfaction and will not damage the wrapper thereunder even if a slight sidewise motion occurs. The thicker edge is also desirable in that it greatly reduces the amount of sharpening necessary.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention, then, comprises the features hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description and the annexed drawings setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, these being indicative however, of 'but a few of the various ways in which the principle of the invention may be employed.

In said annexed drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of mechanism embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the portion of the mechanism to the rear thereof, being taken on a plane at right angles and substantially on the line IIII, Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal vertical sectional detail; Fig. 4 is a further enlarged transverse section taken substantially on the line IV-IV, Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a similar section taken substantially on the line VV, Fig. 3; and Figs. 6, '7 and 8 are fragmentary side elevational views of modifications.

In its general aspects, the invention contemplates formation of a tobacco body in continuouslength manner, inserting therein at spaced intervals a mouthpiece plug, as it'may for convenience be termed,.completing the formation of the assembled structure in rod-manner, and then severing into finished lengths each of which contains its mouthpiece plug abutting the tobacco body. Thus, tobacco in suitably prepared form for cigarettes may be continuously laid upon a traveling web of wrapper-paper, mouthpiece plugs may simultaneously be formed and be forwarded and placed in spaced positions in the tobacco filler body in spaces provided therefor by removal of tobacco portions at regular intervals, and the paper is then turned up about the assembly of alternate tobacco and mouthpiece plugs and is sealed to complete the continuous rod-form, whereupon it is fed to the severing mechanism for cutting into individual cigarette lengths.

As illustrated in Fig. 1, there is shown a means A for forming a continuous-type of cigarette filler by depositing the prepared tobacco upon a traveling web of wrapper-paper indicated by the dotted line 2. The detail of the tobacco body forming mechanism being immaterial to the present invention, and there being well known mechanism existent for this, further detailed description and showing thereof is unnecessary, and sufiice it to say that the traveling wrapper-paper 2 with its provided wind-row of tobacco filler 2a, is fed along progressively to the plug-inserting mechanism B. This is mounted upon the general framing 3 of the machine, and includes a housing 4 within which is the drive-gearing for actuating the respective elements including the cutter-car rying wheel 0, the wheel plug-inserting means d,

and the endless belt e which travels in relation therewith. The endless belt 6 is desirably in the form of a metal tape-like belt and having windows 5 (Fig. 5) at spaced intervals, through which the cutting elements and the plug-inserting elements successively operate, the belt e traveling over drums 6, 1, each of which has peripheral lugs 8 coacting sprocket-wise in corresponding small openings near each edge of the belt, for feeding the same positively, somewhat in the manner of the feed of a motion picture film. The drum or wheel 6 is an idler, and the drum or wheel I is positively driven. Mounted within, but unconnected to the wheel 6 is a shaft 9 preferably carried by the housing 4 by means of ball bearings I0, I I, the shaft being driven through its gearing I2 from a gear I3 which in turn meshes with a gear 14 on a shaft 15 actuated by a worm wheel I6 and a worm I! on the main shaft [8. The projecting end of shaft 9 carries fixedly-attached the wheel-like member 0, which comprises a back plate 19, and a face plate 29 suitably held by bolts or screws 2|, and between which plates a series of cutters k is arranged. Each such cutter Ic comprises a wedgeblock 23 supported by a cap screw 24, and having spaced cutting edges 25 such as to be suitable to cut through the wind-row of tobacco body carried along thereunder, without damaging the wrapper-paper therebeneath. Adjusting means for the cutter blades is provided, and this may take the form of shouldered slides 26 (see Fig. 3) bearing against the respective blades internally, and being adjustable by screws 22'. In a position under and opposite each cutter Ic as it comes into functioning relation, is an anvil 28, resiliently supported by a spring 29 about the stem 30, the tension being such as to afford a slight yielding as the cutter is brought into operating position above. Between the wheels 6 and 1 is a housing or suction-head 3| having a connection-outlet 3m to a suitable source of vacuum. The cutters, while severing the tobacco, do not in themselves lift the severed portion from the tobacco stream. and thus the cut-out portions may be uniformly removed by the suction. By arranging the suction-head 3| against the cutter wheel, any possible stray particles of tobacco that might tend to follow around with the cutters are removed also. The cutter assembly is held together by a locking cone 32 which inserts into a corresponding recess in the rear plate I 9, a key 33 insuring movement with the shaft when the cone is fixed in position by the securing means 34 which is screw threaded into the end of the shaft 9 and against the cone.

Surrounding the cutter wheel 0, as aforementioned, is the idler wheel 6 for the belt e, and any suitable mounting therefor may be applied, for instance a series of ball bearings 35 (see Fig. 5), carried on studs 36 secured to the face of the housing 4, and upon such bearings an outer track-way 3G1; may engage, this being secured to the web 31 of the wheel 6, and to an inner ring 38 to complete the run-way channel. By such means, as seen, the wheel 6 may turn freely in the mounting, not interfering with the cutter wheel 0. v

The drive wheel 1 for the belt c is fastene to and driven by a shaft 39 (see Fig. 4) mounted in bearings 46, M, in the housing 4. The shaft is driven in turn through a gear 42 which meshes with gear I3. The wheel carries a series of pusher levers 43 (see also Fig. 3), these being pivotally connected to the wheel as by studs 44, and the extension end of each lever carries a cam-roller .455; which i travels in a. cam-race 46 in a stationary camplate ll" anchoredto the frame by eanys convenient means.,. for instance support-arm: 4,8 connecting with a. face-plate. The, ends 1 015 the levers .4.3 .lieopposite openings imthe;pelipheryofthewheel I, such asto, be.

fingeriiflg: at @thaothepend. The, cam rollers 53 are. a1so,.operated=,byia cam-race 55 in the stationarylcam plate; The ends .54 of the levers are positioned ,oppositeropenings in the, periphery obthewheel 1.; such thatthe cam arrangement occasions aprojection of each lever through aiportion oft-the revolution .of the wheel 1, and a retraction' therewithin during the remainder of the revolution. Both ,setsof levers coact in the feed jof the ;mouth-piece plugs. formedand forwarded thereto by the mechanism shown .morelextensively in Fig. 2;- In this a strip ofrpaperjfids. drawn together iroma continuous webr'feed, the detail .of ;which is unnecessary toshow, into. a compactingconeil which provides description- Thesevered plugs thence proceed totthelinserting. means, which may include, a.

guide 64 having a. face; plate 65;adjustable by meansof its holding screws 66" to provide: suitable. slight frictional engagement against its free forwardfeed: Desirably, theface plate fiimay be'uofz plate. glass. At the; lower end of the curved; guide.64 isa pair. of; kicherwheels SJ;

drivenrbyany. suitable means, for instance motor 68 and belt .69., these wheels being so positioned as, to seize. each filler, plug 63 in turn and; shove it into the grooved channel- It of thehousing 3| which coactswwiththe wheel 1. A..corresponding groove m in the face of; theQWheel. cooperates with grooved; channel H1;

to, providev ajcircular-cross section for the reception of: the cylindrical plugs, such as. to allow engagement of the feed-fingers 511 of the levers 43", the plug thus being fed down in relation to the tobacco in. the wrapper 2; The lever-ends.

onflngers 5| seryeto-push the plugs radially outward-from the wheel. I; at the instant of their insertion. into the tobacco. Desirably, the feed finger, is given, an. exaggerated thrust movement: timed with the contact of the filler. plug with the tobacco as it is positioned in the preformed: recess, such thrust forward serving. to

' properlybed-the:filler-plug and tobacco together. For this, the cam path is properly shaped and theiwindows in thewheel 'l: and belt care slightly appropriately enlarged. j Beyond the assemblywheel. 1afo me id i r n e w we hp nun ab u he sides-Qt.- he qhacwend These levers ateof thegeneral form, ,ofbell-crank levers having a cam roller 53 28.12 one end and a feed.

The latter are insert.plugs,. the wrapper thence being sealed bysuitable means '52, which maybe of detail form as known in the art, and requiring no furtherdescription here. Thecigarette. r'odror pencil" l2 thence proceeds to cutting mechanism, which may comprise a cutter 14 whose detail "and drive may be of any suitable form, such. as. known in the art, and which serves to. cut the rod or pencil into finished cigarettes. In. order to assureproper feed-action, an endless traveling belt 15 driven by belt-wheel wand suitable gear;

ing ll, l8, coactswith the travelingwrapper 2 and contents. i

In operation, the filler tobacco is fed down by the feed mechanism A, upon the continuous web of wrapper paper 2, thereby forming a continuous wind-row of tobacco, which is brought under the apertured belt 6, and the solid portions of the. belt grip spaced sections of thetobacco wind-row, leaving alternate sections exposed through the apertures 5. The cutters it carried by the cutter? Wheel 0 operate through these apertures tosever the tobacco wind-row but not the wrapper 'paper thereunder, near each end of the exposedsectionsi of the wind-row. In this way, the sections of the tobacco wind-row reposing underthe apertures in the belt are left entirely free, so that upon their advancement to'a point beneath thesuction head 3|, these freesections are drawn off by vacuum through the outlet duct 3 Ea andmay be re-i'ntro-t duced into the feed as desired. It will be seen thatthe removalof the free sections leaves spaced recesses in what had previously been a continuous" wind-row of tobacco. Meantime, the paperweb 56 (Fig. 2) is being compacted into rod or pencilform and wrapped Within the wrapper weld-58 and. sealed up, and cut by the'cutter 62 into lengths which desirably may be twice the length of the ul-l timately finished plug. These lengths 63 are fed down through the guide 64 and are seizedby the kicker wheel fil and shoved into the path ofthe, feed-finger of the next approaching le er '43. 1 At. the same time, the lever-end 54 of the corresponding leverbl engages the forward endof the,

plug and the latter is fed down and assembled in the prepared recess in the tobacco wind-row.

Thereupon; the former-guideli turns the wrapper-f2 up about, the assembly, and it is sealed by.

the ssealing means l2, forming the continuous rod. or pencil 13 which is finally cut by the cutter means 14 into the finished cigarettes. The cutter means may'beso arranged that alternate cuts pass through tobacco-filler and through plugfiller, thereby allowing one plug length 63 as supplied to the tobacco wind-row to ultimately cut into the respective mouthpiece ends of adjoining. cigarettes;

Insome instances, instead of consolidatingthe.

recess-forming or cutter wheel and the assembly wheel: within the respective belt wheels, I may arrange the belt wheels independently, as belt wheels to, la, Fig. 6, carrying a belt e which may be of caterpillartread type if desired, and agairi provided with windows through which the cutters and feed elements may operataas aforedescribed. Between the suction head 3i and the all assembly means d may then be arranged the plug guide 64, as already described.

In the forrnof the invention shown in Fig, '7,

the endless belt 6 is driven by thewheel l: as,

belt is "supported around the cutter-carrying.

wheel e however, by guide-means which mayborn -i prise rollers 1' suitably mounted to maintain the proper directive path for the belt traveling thereover, and by suitably spacing the nearest roll back from the cutter-carrying wheel below, the belt 0 is brought into holding engagement with the wind-row of tobacco at a point quite in advance of the action of the cutters, and thereby any tendency of the latter to occasion slight displacement of tobacco strands, as might be the case with some stocks, is obviated, since the tobacco is firmly gripped by the belt in its compressive trave1 with relation to the wind-row of tobacco on the wrapper paper, to hold the material firmly during the successive action of the cutters.

Instead of a somewhat flexible belt, a rotary drum e, Fig. 8, may be arranged. Such drum, as in the case of the belt, is provided with spaced apertures at intervals corresponding to the positioning for action of the cutters and plug-inserting members. The cutter-carrying wheel 0, the plug-inserting means d, and the suction-head 3| are positioned within the drum, while the traveling wrapper with its wind-row 2a of tobacco is guided to conform against the periphery of the drum at a point in advance of the cutter-carrying wheel c. The traveling belt is appropriately arranged to coact with the drum beginning at a point well up on its periphery, thereby assuring accurate maintenance and forward feed of the traveling material.

In the operation of the forms of the invention shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8, the wind-row of tobacco 2a, formed as indicated by any desired means, superimposed upon the traveling web of wrapper paper, is guided beneath the traveling means for gripping spaced sections thereof, leaving alternate sections free, such traveling means being the apertured belt 6, e, or the apertured drum 6" respectively. The cutters k then operate through the apertures, and the resulting free sections of the tobacco wind-row are removed under the vacuum-head 3!, 3|, or 3! respectively, while the sections on the tobacco windrow gripped by the solid portions of belt e, e or drum e" are held intact. With the further progress beneath the plug-inserting means, the

mouthpiece plugs are inserted into the spaced recesses left by the removal of the free sections of the tobacco, and the progressive assembly is wrapped, sealed, and cut into individual cigarettes, as indicated.

In its various aspects thus, the invention is seen to provide advantageous assembly of mouthpiece filler-plugs with a tobacco body, such plugs having the function of preventing tobacco shreds from loosening into the mouth of the user, and the entire assembly being accomplished in a manner consistent with high speed machine production. By reason furthermore, of the manner of drive, all steps of operation are carried out in exact relation, thus insuring uniformity of product.

This application is a division of my prior application Serial No. 645,709, filed December 5, 1932.

Other modes of applying the principle of the invention may be employed, change being made as regards the details described, provided the features stated in any of the following claims, or the equivalent of such, be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. In a continuous rod-type cigarette machine,

means for providing spaced sections of tobacco filler, each section having cleanly cut transverse ends, and means for interposing mouthpiece plugs between such sections.

2. In a continuous rod-type cigarette machine, means for advancing a web of wrapper paper, means for forming a tobacco wind-row thereon, and means for cutting out spaced sections from the tobaco wind-row.

3. In a continuous rod-type cigarette machine, means for advancing a web of wrapper paper, means for forming a tobacco wind-row thereon, means for cutting out spaced sections from such wind-row, and means for interposing mouthpiece plugs in such cut-out places.

4. In a continuous rod-type'cigarette machine, means for advancing a web of wrapper paper, means for forming a tobacco wind-row thereon, and means for cutting through said tobacco windrow at intervals without cutting the wrapper.

5. In a continuous rod-type cigarette machine, means for advancing a web of wrapper paper, means for forming a tobacco wind-row thereon, means for gripping spaced sections of said tobacco wind-row, and means for cutting outintervening sections of said tobacco wind-row.

6. In a continuous rod-type cigarette machine, means for advancing a web of wrapper paper, means for forming'a tobacco wind-row thereon, means for cutting out spaced sections from such wind-row, means for making mouthpiece plugs, and means for inserting the plugs in the cut-out portions of such wind-row.

7. In a continuous rod-type cigarette machine, means for advancing a web of wrapper paper, means for forming a tobacco wind-row thereon, means for cutting out spaced portions of such wind-row, means for inserting therein mouthpiece plugs, means for wrapping the tobacco and the plugs, and means for cutting into individual cigarettes.

9. In a mechanism of the character described, means for providing a tobacco wind-row, a cutter, traveling means for carrying said cutter into coaction with the tobacco wind-row for cutting at spaced intervals, and means for supplying'mouthpiece plugs at such cut-out places.

9. In mechanism of the character described, means for providing a tobacco wind-row, a series of cutters, traveling means for carrying said cutters into coaction with the tobacco wind-row, means for supplying mouthpiece p1ugs,'and traveling means for positioning such plugs in the cutout places of the wind-row.

10. In mechanism of the character described;

means for providing a tobacco wind-row, a series of cutters, traveling means for carrying said cutters into coaction with the tobacco wind-row, means for supplying mouthpiece plugs,'position-" ing elements for placing such mouthpiece plugs in the cut-out sections of the wind-row, rotary means for carrying such placing elements, and an apertured traveling means coacting with said cutters and said placing elements.

11. In mechanism of the character described, means for forming a wind-row of tobacco, an apertured belt to operate over such wind-row, cutting means to operate through the apertures of said belt, means for supplying mouthpiece plugs, placing-elements operable through the apertures of said belt for placing the mouthpiece plugs in the tobacco wind-row, and cam-means for actuating said placing-elements.

12. In mechanism of the character described, means for forming a wind-row 'of tobacco, an apertured belt to operate over such wind-row, a

series of cutters to operate through the apertures of said belt, rotary-means carrying said cutters, an apertured wheel driving said belt, guide-rollers for directing said belt in a path beyond said rotary means, means for supplying mouthpiece plugs, a series of placing-elements operable through the apertures of said belt for placing the mouthpiece plugs in the tobacco wind-row and cam-means for actuating said placing-elements.

13. In mechanism of the character described, means for forming a wind-row of tobacco, an apertured drum to operate over such wind-row, a series of cutters to operate through the apertures of said drum, rotary means carrying said cutters, means for supplying mouthpiece plugs, a series of placing-elements operable through the apertures of said belt, and means for actuating said placing-elements.

14. In mechanism of the character described, means for forming a wind-row of tobacco, an apertured belt to operate over such wind-row, a series of cutters to operate through the apertures of said belt, drum-means carrying said cutters, an

apertured wheel driving said belt, means for supplying mouthpiece plugs, a series of placing-elements operable through the apertures of said belt for placing such plugs in the tobacco wind-row,

and drum-means for carrying said placing-elements.

15. In mechanism of the character described,

apertured traveling means for operating on a tobacco wind-row, cutters operable through the apertures of said traveling means, a vacuumconnection adjacent said cutters, means for supplying mouthpiece plugs, and placing-elements operable through the apertures of said traveling means for placing such plugs in the tobacco windrow. i V i 16. In mechanism of the character described, an apertured belt to operate over a tobacco windrow, a series of cutters to operate through the apertures of said belt, rotary-means carrying said cutters, an apertured wheel driving said belt, placing-elements for placing mouthpiece plugs in the tobacco wind-row, rotary-means for carrying said placing-elements, and a vacuum-connection between the carrier means for said cutters and the carrier means for said placing-elements.

17. In mechanism of the character described,

i an apertured beltto operate over a tobacco windrow, anapertured driving wheel and an apertured idler wheel carrying said belt, a series of cutters to operate through the apertures of said cigarette.

idler wheel and said belt, rotary means for carrying said cutters, placing-elements operable through the apertures of said belt for placing mouthpiece plugs in the tobacco wind-row, and means for operating said placing-elements.

18. In mechanism of the character described, an apertured belt to operate over a tobacco windrow, an apertured driving Wheel and an apertured idler wheel carrying said belt, a series of cutters to operate through the apertures of said idler wheel and said belt, rotary means for carrying said cutters, means for supplying mouthpiece plugs, feed fingers for forwarding the plugs, steadying fingers for cooperating with said feed fingers, and rotary means for carrying said feed fingers and said steadying fingers.

19. In mechanism of the character described, an apertured belt to operate over a tobacco windrow, an apertured drive Wheel and an apertured idler wheel carrying said belt, a series of cutters to operate through the apertures of said idler wheel and said belt, rotary means for carrying said cutters, means for supplying mouthpiece plugs, feed-fingers for forwarding the plugs, steadying fingers for cooperating with said feed fingers, rotary means for carrying said feed-fingers and said steadying fingers, said rotary means embodying the apertured belt drive wheel aforementioned, cam-means for operating said feed fingers and steadying fingers, and means for sealing a wrapper about the assembled tobacco and mouthpiece plugs.

20. In mechanism of the character described, an apertured belt to operate over a tobacco windrow, an apertured drive wheel and an apertured idler wheel carrying said belt, a series of cutters to operate through the apertures of said idler Wheel and said belt, rotary means for carrying said cutters, means for supplying double-length mouthpiece plugs, feed-fingers for forwarding the plugs, steadying fingers for cooperating with said feed fingers, rotary means for carrying said feedfingers and said steadying fingers, said rotary means embodying the apertured belt drive wheel aforementioned, cam-means for operating said feed fingers and steadying fingers, means for sealing a wrapper about the assembled tobacco and mouthpiece plugs, and means for cutting the assemblage into cigarettes and dividing the mouthpiece plugs to leave one length thereof in each 

